Photo by: Texas A&M Athletics
Aggies Picked Fourth in USA Today Coaches Poll
Jan 28, 2016 | Baseball
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M Aggies were ranked No. 4 in the Preseason USA Today Coaches Poll released on Thursday.
It marks the highest ever preseason ranking for the Aggies in the USA Today Coaches Poll. Texas A&M was ranked No. 5 to start the 1994 and 2009 seasons.
The Aggies were one of four SEC schools ranked in the Top five and the highest ranked among the four Texas schools on the list.
Florida was slotted No. 1, followed by Louisville, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M. LSU, Miami, Virginia, Oregon State, UCLA and Oklahoma State rounded out the Top 10.
The Aggies' lineup returns six starters from last season, led by All-America outfielder Nick Banks who batted .364 with 51 runs, 11 doubles, three triples, eight home runs and 48 RBI in 2015. First baseman Hunter Melton hit .300 with 36 runs, nine doubles, one triple, eight home runs and 37 RBI as a junior last season. Other returning starters include second baseman Ryne Birk, centerfielder JB Moss, third baseman/designated hitter Ronnie Gideon and catcher Michael Barash.
The Maroon and White also return a wealth of talent on the mound, including preseason All-Americans Mark Ecker (1-2, 2.45 ERA, 8 saves) and Ryan Hendrix (6-4, 3.66 ERA, 5 saves).
Texas A&M is coming off a 2015 campaign in which they finished 50-14, the highest win total for the Aggies since 1999. They extended their school-record string of consecutive NCAA Championship appearances to nine seasons and claimed their seventh overall NCAA Regional title. The Maroon and White started the 2015 season with an SEC-record 24-game win streak.
Rob Childress' Aggies begin the 2016 season on February 19 as they host the Hofstra Pride in a three-game series on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
It marks the highest ever preseason ranking for the Aggies in the USA Today Coaches Poll. Texas A&M was ranked No. 5 to start the 1994 and 2009 seasons.
The Aggies were one of four SEC schools ranked in the Top five and the highest ranked among the four Texas schools on the list.
Florida was slotted No. 1, followed by Louisville, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M. LSU, Miami, Virginia, Oregon State, UCLA and Oklahoma State rounded out the Top 10.
The Aggies' lineup returns six starters from last season, led by All-America outfielder Nick Banks who batted .364 with 51 runs, 11 doubles, three triples, eight home runs and 48 RBI in 2015. First baseman Hunter Melton hit .300 with 36 runs, nine doubles, one triple, eight home runs and 37 RBI as a junior last season. Other returning starters include second baseman Ryne Birk, centerfielder JB Moss, third baseman/designated hitter Ronnie Gideon and catcher Michael Barash.
The Maroon and White also return a wealth of talent on the mound, including preseason All-Americans Mark Ecker (1-2, 2.45 ERA, 8 saves) and Ryan Hendrix (6-4, 3.66 ERA, 5 saves).
Texas A&M is coming off a 2015 campaign in which they finished 50-14, the highest win total for the Aggies since 1999. They extended their school-record string of consecutive NCAA Championship appearances to nine seasons and claimed their seventh overall NCAA Regional title. The Maroon and White started the 2015 season with an SEC-record 24-game win streak.
Rob Childress' Aggies begin the 2016 season on February 19 as they host the Hofstra Pride in a three-game series on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
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